Every verdict
Everything I've tested, in one list.
One line per product, and where to read the full verdict. Everything here I bought myself and actually used — nothing on this page is a guess.
Taste
| Product | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| Buldak Carbonara vs Original Carbonara is the one to start with. Original is hotter and thinner — good, but not first. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Buldak Tang (the soup one) A real soup, not a drier stir-fry. Genuinely hot — this is not the gentle one. | Spice lovers only | Read |
| Korean shrimp chips (Saewookkang) The original still wins after six flavours. The spicy ones are for grown-ups. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Korean seaweed (gim), 3 brands bibigo is the crispiest of the three and the one I keep buying. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Home Run Ball vs Kancho Home Run Ball for the cream, Kancho for the nostalgia and the name game. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Tteokbokki, what to actually buy Pulmuone across three varieties. Add mozzarella and a boiled egg. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Korean Cheetos vs American Not the same snack at all. The Korean one is sweet-spicy, not cheesy. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Pepero Almond is my pick. Worth knowing the 11/11 holiday before you buy a box. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Honey Butter Chip Korea queued for these in 2014. I don't personally like them. Try one bag. | Polarizing — try it once | Read |
| Oreo O's Discontinued in the US in 2024. Korea never stopped making it — here's why. | Explainer | Read |
Beauty
| Product | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| Ma:nyo Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil Third bottle. It removes sunscreen without leaving my skin tight. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Banila Co Clean It Zero Balm vs oil, honestly compared. Both work — they suit different routines. | Jinjja ✓ | Read |
| Make p:rem tone-up sunscreen The glow is real. Best in cool, mild weather; set it when it's hot and humid. | Worth it — in the right conditions | Read |
| Dokdo Toner vs Dr.G R.E.D Dr.G calms; the other controls oil. Full verdict once the two weeks are up. | Still testing | Read |
| Why Korean skincare is so good I can order a cleanser at midnight and have it by 7 a.m. That speed is the story. | Explainer | Read |
Reviewing next
Bought, waiting, or on the way. No verdict here until I've actually used it.
- Rosé Buldak — the one everyone asks about. I haven't tasted it yet, so I'm not ranking it.
- COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence — the most-searched Korean serum in the US.
- Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide — note the US and Korean versions are not the same product.
- Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner — the milky one, to sit alongside the other two toners.
- Turtle Chips (꼬북칩), Choco Pie, Gorae Bap — the snack aisle classics I grew up on.
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